When I left education, the post uni blues set in, I felt lost and vulnerable. In the same month after sending out countless résumés to no avail, I was forced to sign on. I felt as if I had wasted three years of my life but the truth of the matter was, I had no clear vision and hadn’t prepared myself for the new economy and so I started reading…

Here are some great books I found along the way that helped me to rebuild my confidence, find a job I love (then quit to go travelling and start my own business) and continue to grow as a person. Hopefully they can help you too:

1) The Icarus Deception: How High Will You Fly? – Seth Godin

REASON: This is top of the list because it’s vital reading for any young person out there who wants to thrive in this turbulent economy.  Seth Godin explains why innovation and not being afraid to fly too high are now more important than ever.

2) How To Win Friends And Influence People – Dale Carnegie

REASON:  They say “your network is your net worth,” this book is all about becoming a master at building and maintaining relationships, something that will be a vital part of finding work or meeting the right people after education. Read it!

3) The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do, and How to Change – Charlies Duhigg

REASON: I recommended reading this immediately after college / university as we all tend to build up some bad habits. This book will help you to identify  negative cues and help you to replace them with positive ones in order to turn yourself in to a more healthy, conscientious and productive person.

4) The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich – Tim Ferriss

REASON: After all the freedom of college / university, the last thing you want to do is get sucked into a dead end 9 to 5 job. Tim Ferriss breaks down how to join the ‘New Rich’ and turn your passion into an automated business. Even if you’re not looking to become an entrepreneur,  this book is a great blue print for learning how to live more by doing less, better.

5) The Secret to Success – Eric Thomas

REASON: Eric Thomas is a legend. Most students get depressed after leaving education and it feels  as if the world’s against you. Eric Thomas was a High School drop out and homeless from a young age, his story will get you fired up and ready to put in what he calls “sweat equity.”

6) Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? How to drive your career and create a remarkable future –  Seth Godin

REASON: Yes, another by Seth Godin – I’m a bit of a fan boy but for good reason. This book is all about making yourself indispensable by continuously working on your skills, your attitude and your art. It also tell you how to put that negative ‘Lizard Brain’ to sleep.

7) Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking –  Susan Cain

REASON: If you’re a quiet, shy or introverted person you may see that as a weakness going into the working world.  This books helps you to embrace the introvert in you and use it to your advantage. If you’re feeling sceptical, check out Susan’s TED talk.

8) The Happiness Hypothesis: Putting Ancient Wisdom to the Test of Modern Science – Jonathan Haidt

REASON: Many people leave education and the first thing they think of is how am I going to get the job with the biggest pay cheque. This book will open your eyes to what really matters.

9) The 48 Laws Of Power (A Joost Elffers Production) – Robert Greene

REASON:  This book changed my life, honestly.  It’s packed full of life lessons learnt throughout history and how they still apply today. Although the title of this book may seem slightly extreme, it’s just marketing. If there’s an area of your life where you want to raise your game, this book will deliver.

10) The Start-up of You: Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career – Reid Hoffman

REASON: The book is a great reminder that it is you and only you that is responsible for your future successes. It uses start-up methodologies to hammer home the importance of constantly evaluating and reflecting upon your current achievements in order to move forward and grow as person. 

11) Rich Dad Poor Dad – Robert T Kiyosaki 

REASON: If you want to understand why some people get rich and others work their arses off just to survive this book has the answers and explains it through Robert’s amusing childhood experiences with his two fathers. It teaches young people why they should invest in assets (rental housing, stocks) instead of liabilities (cars, their own house) and why educations is not always the path to a ‘secure’ life.

If there are any other books out there that you think should be on this list, please post them in the comments section with your reasoning and I’ll add them in.